Oman and Bahrain sign MoUs to boost relations

SALALAH: The Sixth Session of the Omani-Bahraini Joint Committee concluded on Tuesday in Salalah. The two-day session focused on the depth of the existing historical relations between the Sultanate and the sisterly Kingdom of Bahrain and the ties of brotherly relations under the guidance of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos and King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The Omani side at the talks was led by Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, while the Bahraini side was led by Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed al Khalifa, Foreign Minister of Bahrain.
Alawi expressed the Sultanate’s appreciation for the presence of the Bahraini delegation on its soil, pointing out that these joint meetings come in line with the directives of His Majesty the Sultan and the King of Bahrain to organise joint efforts in all political, economic, cultural and scientific fields, in addition to exchanging expertise and experiences to serve the common interests of both countries and peoples, stressing that the meeting was aimed at raising the level of joint cooperation between the two countries in all fields.
Alawi stressed that the Omani-Bahraini relations are now at their peak and are a solid example of brotherly relations based on the ties between the two brotherly peoples, historical ties of friendship, bonds of brotherly love and common interests and aspirations for a brighter future and sustainable development.
He added: “We in the Sultanate of Oman are always keen to cooperate and partner with our brothers in the Kingdom of Bahrain, which at the same time is an important feedback to the joint efforts within the framework of the Gulf Cooperation Council, reaching the strategic objectives set by the GCC leaders to achieve coherence and integration among the countries and peoples of the region.”

Alawi said: “Despite the political differences and disagreements that the GCC is going through at the current stage, we believe that whatever differences and disagreements between the brothers are, we are confident that the GCC will remain a monument. We are convinced that all of us are committed to the cooperation council, which has proved its ability to overcome difficulties and challenges and has accomplished important achievements since the foundation of the blessed march set by the leaders to achieve prosperity, stability and development for the peoples of the GCC countries, which we cannot neglect or abandon.”
Shaikh Al Khalifa said: “I would like to express my great happiness for being in the Sultanate of Oman, this dear country, for which, its wise leadership and people, we have a great sense of love and appreciation.”
He added that the meetings of the sixth session of the Omani-Bahraini Joint Committee are an affirmation of the directives of King Hamad and His Majesty the Sultan and their keenness to develop bilateral relations in all fields and reach the highest levels of coordination and cooperation for the good of the two countries and the two brotherly peoples and to continue the successful march of the GCC as a unique building made by the will of the wise leaders who work on the prosperity and security and stability of our countries and peoples.”
The Bahraini foreign minister said that the meetings under the framework of the Joint Committee between the two countries will continue to review and evaluate the bilateral cooperation in all fields and will consider the possibility of opening new horizons.
He expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to the members of the joint committee of the two sides for their efforts and their keenness to discuss everything that would enhance cooperation between the two brotherly countries, especially the agreed memoranda of understanding in culture, tourism cooperation, civil retirement and executive programmes in the protection of the environment, climate affairs and the field of youth and sports, in addition to the minutes of the meeting, which contains many areas of cooperation between the two sides, Praying to the Almighty Allah to protect His Majesty the Sultan and King of Bahrain, preserve the Sultanate and its people from all harms, perpetuate blessings of welfare and success on the two countries, looking forward to the next year’s meeting hosted by Bahrain to continue the march of good and cooperation development and activation to meet the aspirations of leaders and the aspirations of the two brotherly peoples.
A joint statement was issued at the conclusion of the meetings, which read as follows: “At the kind invitation of Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed al Khalifa, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, paid an official visit to the Sultanate of Oman from September 3 and 4.
In a spirit of cordiality and brotherhood, which embody the depth of the distinguished historical relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Bahrain and the brotherly relations between them and their brotherly peoples under the guidance of His
Majesty Sultan Qaboos and King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Omani-Bahraini Joint Committee held its sixth session in Salalah, the Sultanate of Oman, on September 4, under the chairmanship of Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, and Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed al Khalifa, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, with the participation of a number of senior officials of the two brotherly countries.
The two sides reviewed the bilateral cooperation relations between the two countries and expressed their great satisfaction at the level they reached. They also stressed the importance of moving forward to promote bilateral cooperation in all political, security, economic, trade, industrial, judicial and development fields of cooperation, in addition to education, media, labor force, civil services, social development and other fields, and opening new horizons to achieve the aspirations of their leaders and the hopes and aspirations of their two brotherly peoples.
The two sides also discussed the most important regional and international issues of common concern and they had identical views on them.
Emphasizing the importance of continuing and enhancing cooperation between the two brotherly countries, the two sides signed memoranda of understanding and executive programs in the following areas:
Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Heritage and Culture of the Sultanate of Oman and the Bahrain Culture and Antiquities Authority in the Kingdom of Bahrain in the cultural field.
Memorandum of Understanding in the field of tourism cooperation between the Government of the Sultanate of Oman represented by the Ministry of Tourism and the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain represented by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism.
Memorandum of Understanding between the Civil Service Employees Pension Fund (CSEPF) and the General Organization of Social Insurance in the Kingdom of Bahrain in the field of civil retirement.
Executive program between the Government of the Sultanate of Oman represented by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs and the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain represented by the Supreme Council for the Environment in the field of environmental protection and climate affairs for the years (2018-2021).
Executive program for cooperation in the fields of youth and sports between the Government of the Sultanate of Oman represented by the Ministry of Sports Affairs and the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain represented by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs for the years (2018-2021).
— ONA